Magazine for automatic guns



June 1943- "r. E. HORNCASTLE ,321, MAGAZINE FOR AUTOMATIC GUNS Filed Aug. 1, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fie: I

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS June 8, 1943. 'r. E. HORNCASTLE MAGAZINE FOR AUTOMATIC GUNS Filed Aug. 1, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR m 72/0/2245 .5 HORHCAS/ZE' Patented June 8, 1943 UNlTED STATES ATENT OFFICE MAGAZINE FOR AUTOMATIC GUNS Thomas E. Horncastle, -Flushing, N. Y., assignor to Brewster Aeronautical Corporation, Long Island City, N. Y.

'7 Claims.

I This invention relates to devices for supplying ammunition to automatic guns in the form of belts of cartridges connected. by links, and for collecting the links and/ or cartridge cases subsequent to firing thereof. The invention has particular application to automatic guns mounted in aircraft wherein it is of utmost importance to conserve the space necessarily occupied by such apparatus, and wherein the gun-ejected cartridge cases and belt links must be automatically disposed of as they issue from the gun in such manner as to preclude their interfering with the gunners tactics.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved gun-servicing device in the form of an ammunition container for use in conjunction with an automatic gun which is adapted also to function simultaneously as an improved receiver for the gun-ejected belt links and/or cartridge cases subsequent to firing of the cartridges and disassembly of the links from the discharged cartridge cases. Another object of the invention is to provide a simplified and improved combination ammunition container and receiver for cartridge belt clips and/or cases for use in connection with automatic guns mounted in aircraft, whereby Valuable space within the aircraft fuselage is saved. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved gun servicing device whereby the cartridge belt is fed to the gun in an improved manner and the gun-ejected cartridge clips and/or cases, are collected and stored in an improved manner. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved combination ammunition container and clip and/or cartridge case receiver of the type described wherein means are provided for automatically separating the received clips and/or cases from the unused ammunition in an improved manner. Other objects and advantages of the'invention will'appear from the specification.

The invention has application to automatic guns of either the flexibly mounted or fixedly mounted types, and contemplates the provision of an improved single container device adapted to function simultaneously as an ammunition supply magazine and a receiver for the gunejected cartridge cases and/or belt links for subsequent further disposal or re-use. However, in the present specification the invention is illustrated in connection with a gun fixedly mounted in an airplane and as providing for recovery .of the cartridge belt links for subsequent re-use, while the fired cartridge cases are arranged to be permanently discarded through a chute discharging below the airplane fuselage.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary transverse section through an airplane fuselage showing in rear elevation an automatic gun mounted therein and a gun servicing device of the invention with portions thereof broken away to show the interior thereof;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view taken transversely of the view of Fig. 1 and showing the gun servicing device and associated gun in side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in side elevation, of a portion of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially along the lines III-III of Fig. 1 and showing a detail of the mechanism thereof;

Fig. dis a fragmentary section taken substantially along lineIV-IV of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged View of a portion of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a view taken transversely of Fig.5 and along line VIVI thereof.

The gun servicing device of the invention is illustrated as being mounted within an airplane fuselage l0 and in association with a machine gun designated generally by the numeral 12. The gun servicing device is illustrated as comprising an improved combination ammunition container and clip receiver designated generally by the numeral 29, and consisting primarily of a generally rectangular casing having parallel side walls 22; a bottom wall 24; an end plate 26; and an opposite end plate 28. A mounting frame for the gun servicing device is provided as an integral portion of the airplane fuselage structure, and is illustrated as comprising a pair of parallel flanged slide rails 30 arranged to embrace the lower side edges of the container-receiver 20 in freely slidable relation thereon; the flange portions of the slide rails 30 being adapted to guide the container-receiver during sliding movement thereon. Thus, the container-receiver 20 is adapted to be slid into and out of position under the machine gun l2 through any suitable opening in the Wall of the airplane fuselage.

A T-shaped push-pull handle 3 is pivotally mounted upon the end wall 26 of the containerreceiver .26 by means of an integral shaft 36 which is rotatably mounted at its opposite ends in bearing plates 33 which are rigidly mounted upon the side plates 22. Thus, the handle 34 may be conveniently grasped to draw the container receiver 20 out from under the machine supply of ammunition therein needs replenishment; and when reloaded the container-receiver may likewise be conveniently slid back into position under the machine gun upon the rails 30 by means of the handle 34. The outer ends of the shaft 36 are flattened as at 43 and are dimensioned so as to engage thereat with lock plates 42 provided at corresponding end portions of the slide rails 30 for releasably locking the containerreceiver in gun-servicing position upon the supporting rails 30. For this purpose the lock plates 42 are transversely bored as at 44 so as to rotatably receive therein the flattened end portions 40 of the shaft 36, and the locking plates 42 are longitudinally slotted at 46 from their outer ends into the openings 64. The slots 46 are somewhat funnel-shaped, and at their inner ends are so dimensioned as to accommodate the flattened shaft end portions 40 in slidable relation therein only whenever the end portions 6B are disposed horizontally, Thus, whenever the handle 34 is disposed horizontally, the container-receiver 29 is free to be moved slidingly upon the rails 30 into and out of position under the machine gun; but when the container-receiver 20 is in operative position under the gun I2 and the handle 34 is rotated to a substantially vertical position, as illustrated in the drawings, the flattened shaft end portions automatically lock the container-receiver 28 upon the rails 39, thus preventing accidental displacement of the container-receiver 20 from operative position relative to the gun [2. A spring clip 43 is provided to extend outwardly from the container-receiver end wall 26 for holding the handle 34 in vertical locked position against accidental displacement therefrom; but the resiliency of the clip 48 will readily permit withdrawal of the handle from the position illustrated by the operator of the device preparatory to removal of the container-receiver 29 from operative position for servicing purposes.

The casing 29 is generally of box-like form and of such width as to freely accommodate the gun cartridges 50 when disposed crosswise thereof within the interior of the casing. The gun ammunition is prepared for disposal within the container-receiver by assembly into conventional cartridge belt form through use of conventional link devices 52, and the cartridge belt 53 so formed is nested in the container-receiver 20 in customary lapped or pleated manner (Fig. 1) so as to dispose the belt in layers adapted to be successively drawn into the gun through the top opening of the casing 29 in continuously feeding manner. Thus, successive layers of the cartridge belt 53 connect with adjacent layers thereof at alternate ends of the magazine, and operation of the machine gun l2 will automatically provide withdrawal of the cartridge belt from the magazine in the form of a continuous band, commencing at the top of the casing 25 and Working downwardly therethrough until the cartridge belt is exhausted. In this connection a feed chute 54 is arranged in open communication at its upper end with the cartridge belt receiving opening of the gun l2, and at its lower end with the interior of the container-receiver 20 at one upper end thereof, to guide the belt 53 during the gun feeding operation and to protect the belt against outside interferences.

A clip chute 56 is illustrated as being provided in open communication at its upper end with the clip ejecting opening of the machine gun, and at its lower end with the interior of the conincreasing capacity tamer-receiver 20 at the end thereof opposite to that of the connection with the chute 54. Thus, the cartridge belt 53 is adapted to be drawn out of the container-receiver 20 and through the chute 54 into the machine gun (Fig. 1); and as the clips 52 become disengaged upon firing of the cartridges 5B, the clips 52 are ejected from the gun and move under the forces of gravity through the chute 5B and back into the container-receiver 20.

To keep the returned clips separate from the unused portion of the cartridge belt remaining in the container-receiver at various stages of the firing operation, a movable partition 60 is provided in the container-receiver casing 20. The partition 60 comprises essentially a fiat platelike element formed of sheet metal or the like and disposed transversely within the casing 20 so as to substantially close the space between the side Walls 22 and to thus prevent the clips 52 from mingling with unused portions of the cartridge belt 53 within the casing. The partition 60 is pivotally mounted within the casing as at 62, adjacent one of its ends, and the end wall 28 of the casing 20 is of arcuate sectional form concentric with the center of the pivot 62 so that the free end of the partition member 60 may move from the horizontal position shown in Fig. 1 to the downwardly inclined broken line position illustrated while it conforms closely to the container end wall 28 to prevent escape of loose clips 52 therebetween. Thus, the partition member 60 is adapted to be initially disposed in the horizontal position shown in Fig. 1 above the full load of cartridge belt when the container-receiver is first filled with its full complement of ammunition; and as the cartridge belt is withdrawn from the casing 20 through the gun l2 and the layers of cartridge belt are successively removed therefrom the partition member 60 pivots downwardly under the forces of gravity about the point 62 toward the broken line position illustrated in Fig. 1. Thus, the movement of the partition to successively lower positions provides of clip-receiving space as the ammunition is withdrawn from the casing 20. The pivot 62 thus functions as a positioner for maintaining the partition 6G in proper relation with respect to the casing side walls 22 and end wall 28, and away from interference with smooth entry of the cartridge belt into the gun feed chute 54.

To assist in loading the gun-servicing device with successive complements of cartridge belts, a releasable latch designated generally by the numeral 79 is provided at the end wall 28 for cooperation with the movable end of the partition member 61]. The latch device comprises a pair of finger portions 1.2 which are adapted to extend through perforated portions 14 of the end wall 28 into supporting engagement with the movable end of the partition member 60. The fingers 12 are integral portions of a latchv plate 16 which is pivotally mounted upon the end wall 28 by means of a hinge pin 73. A spring 80 is coiled about the hinge pin 18 and so formed as to press at one of its ends against a fixed portion of the end plate 28 and at the other of its ends against the latch plate 16 in such manner as to at all times resiliently urge the latter toward the end plate 28, thus maintaining the fingers 12 in engagement with the partition member 60. An outwardly bent edge portion 82 of the latch plate 16 provides a convenientv flange by which the operator may grasp the latch plate for movement thereof outwardly against the action of the spring so that the finger members 12 may be withdrawn from the position of engagement with the partition 60 illustrated in Fig. 4. Thus, prior to loading of a fresh cartridge belt into the containerreceiver, the partition member 60 may be manually rotated to an upwardly extending vertical position by the operator to permit of insertion of the cartridge belt within the casing, the latch having been previously retracted by the operator from partition-engaging position. After the cartridge belt is nested in the magazine the partition 68 may then be lowered again to the position shown in Fig. 4, the latch 10 having again been manually withdrawn from partitionengaging position, and the free end of the partition will now be free to move under the forces of gravity downwardly as successive layers of the cartridge belt are withdrawn from the container to follow the cartridge removal operation and to provide correspondingly increasing clip receiving space thereabove. Under all operating conditions, however, the latch fingers 12 will function to stop any unintended movement of the partition member upwardly, as for example, during inverted flight of the airplane.

The partition plate 60 is preferably provided with a rounded end plate 90 at its pivoted end so as to provide, in all positions of the partition member, a perfectly smooth and rounded abutment about which the cartridge belt will be withdrawn toward the gun l2. Thus, it will be understood that the partition member 60 automatically follows the withdrawal of the magazine load to provide correspondingly increasing clip accommodating space within the casing structure which initially accommodated the ammunition, and that as the partition 60 moves downwardly it assumes vertically inclined positions and thereby provides in conjunction with the casing wall 28 and the side walls 22 a V- shaped receiving space for the clips 52 which is adapted to retain the received clips in improved manner and against accidental displacement therefrom. It will also be understood that by reason of the novel formation of the partition member 60 as illustrated and described hereinnbove, there is no possibility of interference by the partition member with the smooth feeding of the cartridge belt into the chute 56 toward the machine gun.

I am aware that machine guns have previously been provided with separate casing structures for ammunition containing and clip receiving purposes so that the clips might be saved for re-use purposes; but the present invention contemplates the storing of gun ejected clips and/or cases within the same casing structure that previously accommodated .the cartridge belt before firing, thus saving much valuable space in the airplane. Thus, it will be understood that the invention provides a simplified and improved form of gun servicing device and method of servicing automatic guns, and that the invention is applicable to good advantage and with equal facility to guns mounted in airplanes, tanks, or other vehicles or supporting structures.

In the drawings at Figs. 1 and 2 the empty cartridge case ejecting opening of the gun i2 is shown as being arranged to discharge into a gravity chute 51 which is adapted to convey the ejected cases through the airplane fuselage to a point of permanent discharge into the open spaces therebelow, while the ejected clips 52 are being simultaneously conveyed by the chute 56 into the receiver casing 20. This arrangement is illustrated herein because it is typical of one form of application of the invention under circumstances wherein it is considered undesirable to save the ejected cases while the ejected clips are wanted for re-use purposes. However, it will be understood that the invention contemplates the conduct of any or all of the non-projectile parts of the cartridges from the gun ejecting openings into the gun-servicing device, depending upon which of the non-projectile parts are suitable for re-use, or other considerations, as may be deemed desirable.

Although only one form of the invention has been shown and described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited but that various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A gun servicing device for automatic guns comprising a casing adapted to contain a supply of cartridges comprising projectile and non-projectile parts, chute means leading from said casing toward the point of gun intake of said cartridges, a second chute means leading from the point of gun ejection of said non-projectile parts and disposed so as to return the latter into said casing at a position spaced from the position of withdrawal of said cartridges therefrom, a partition disposed transversely within said casing and pivotally mounted thereon to move automatically in accord with withdrawal of cartridges from said casing and return of said non-projectile parts thereinto so as to provide correspondingly increasing space for said returned parts within said casing as the space occupied by the unused cartridges decreases, and releasable latching means mounted upon said case and having a finger portion normally extending into the orbit of said partition when the latter is in a region corresponding to the condition of said case when containing a full supply of cartridges, spring means associated with said latching means for normally urging said finger portion into the orbit of said partition, said latching means being manually movable against the action of said spring means to avoid interference with movement of said partition.

2. A gun servicing device for automatic guns comprising a case adapted to function as a magazine for cartridges to be fed to said gun, said case having a partition disposed transversely within the interior thereof and pivotally mounted thereon to move in accord with withdrawal of said cartridges from said case and to provide therebehind an increasingly larger space for reception of non-projectile parts of said cartridges upon return thereinto from an ejecting port of said gun, and releasable latching means operatively associating said partition and said case in such manner as to be adapted to maintain said partition in its position corresponding to a full magazine condition and releasable to permit said partition to move in accord with withdrawal of said cartridges from said case.

3. A gun servicing device for use in conjunction with an automatic gun, comprising a single case adapted to function simultaneously as a magazine for cartridges to be fed to the gun and as a receiver for non-projectile parts of said cartridges after firing thereof, said case having a top wall portion thereof formed at opposite ends thereof with separate cartridge outlet port and non-projectile part inlet port portions, a rigid partition plate disposed transversely of the interior of said case and connected by means of a hinge connection device at one end portion of said partition plate to said case at a position adjacent said top wall thereof and between said case outlet and inlet port portions, said partition plate being adapted to freely pivot within said case whereby the free end portion of said plate moves through an arc concentrically of said hinge connection, said case having an end wall portion of curved form closely adjacent and conforming to the path of movement of said partition free end portion so as to closely fit the latter throughout all phases of its pivotal movement, whereby said partition is adapted to separate said cartridges and said non-projectile parts When disposed within said case and to move automatically in accord with withdrawal of cartridges from said case to provide therebehind an increas ingly larger space for reception of non-projectile cartridge parts upon feeding thereinto from the associated gun.

4. A gun servicing device for use in conjunction with an automatic gun, comprising a single case adapted to function simultaneously as a magazine for cartridges to be fed to the gun and as a receiver for non-projectile parts of said cartridges after firing thereof, said case having a top wall portion thereof formed at opposite ends thereof with separate cartridge outlet port and non-projectile part inlet port portions, a rigid partition plate disposed transversely of the interior of said case and connected by means of a hinge connection device at one end portion of said partition plate to said case at a position adjacent said top wall thereof and between said case outlet and inlet port portions so as to be adapted to swing within said case from a position substantially parallel to said top wall portion to a position transversely thereof while the free end portion of said plate moves through an arc concentrically of said hinge connection, said case having an end wall portion of curved form paralleling the path of said swinging movement of said partition plate free end portion so as to closely fit the latter throughout all phases of its pivotal movement, whereby said partition is adapted to separate the initial cartridge load of said magazine and said non-projectile parts when returned to said case and to move automatically in accord with withdrawal of said cartridge load from said case to provide therebehind an increasingly larger space for reception of non-projectile cartridge parts from the gun.

5. A gun servicing device for use in conjunction with an automatic gun, comprising a single case adapted to function simultaneously as a magazine for a belt of cartridges to be fed to the gun and as a receiver for non-projectile parts of said cartridges after firing thereof, said case having a top wall portion thereof formed with separate cartridge belt outlet port and non-projectile part inlet port portions, a rigid partition plate disposed transversely of the interior of said case and connected by means of a hinge connection device adjacent one end portion of said partition plate to said case at a position adjacent said top wall thereof and between said case outlet and inlet port portions and closely adjacent said outlet port portion, said partition plate being adapted to freely pivot within said case whereby the free end portion of said plate moves through an arc concentrically of said hinge connection, said case having an end wall portion of curved form paralleling the path of movement of said partition free end portion to closely fit the latter throughout all phases of its pivotal movement, whereby said partition is adapted to separate said cartridge belt and said non-projectile parts when disposed within said case and to move automatically in accord with withdrawal of cartridges from said case to provide therebehind an increasingly larger space for reception of nonprojectile cartridge parts upon feeding thereinto from the associated gun, said partition plate having a cull portion at the end thereof adjacent said case outlet port portion curving concentrically of said hinge connection for free guiding of said cartridge belt around said hinge connection device.

6. A gun servicing device for automatic guns, comprising a single case adapted to function simultaneously as a magazine for gun cartridges and as a receiver for non-projectile parts of said cartridges after firing thereof, said case having separate cartridge outlet port and non-projectile part inlet port portions, and a rigid partition plate disposed transversely within the interior of said case and hingedly connected thereto by means of a hinge connection device at a position between the positions of said outlet and inlet ports and adapted to pivot relative to said case therewithin as a rigid partition plate device in accord with withdrawal of said cartridges from said case to simultaneously decrease the cartridge accommodating space within said case while increasing the non-projectile part receiving space thereof as the cartridges are fed out of said case.

'7. A gun servicing device for automatic guns, comprising a single case adapted to function simultaneously as a magazine for gun cartridges and as a receiver for non-projectile parts of said cartridges after firing thereof, said case having separate cartridge outlet port and non-projectile part inlet port portions, and a rigid partition plate disposed transversely within the interior of said case and hingedly connected thereto by means of a hinge connection device at a position between the positions of said outlet and inlet ports and adapted to pivot relative to said case therewithin as a rigid partition plate device in accord with withdrawal of said cartridges from said case to simultaneously decrease the cartridge accommodating space within said case while increasing the non-projectile part receiving space thereof as the cartridges are fed out of said case, said partition plate having an end portion thereof disposed to swing in an are about the center of the pivotal connection of said partition to said case to maintain said cartridges and nonprojectile parts in separated relation, said case having an end wall portion thereof curving concentrically with the center of said hinge connection, and cooperating with said swinging end portion of said partition plate to prevent mixing of said cartridges and said non-projectile parts at all stages of the swinging movement thereof.

THOMAS E. HORNCASTLE. I 

